Yousa国际传媒檝e probably heard the term sa国际传媒榳inter bluessa国际传媒�, but have you heard about Blue Monday?

Although originally coined by a travel agency looking to make a few extra bucks in January, the third Monday of the new year is often when holiday bills come in, excitement from festivities is over, and lots of people are just feeling down in the dumps.

Candace Giesbrecht, director of people and engagement with the Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna, says the lack of sunlight through the winter plays a huge role.

sa国际传媒淭he first thing we recommend is to assess,sa国际传媒� Giesbrecht says. sa国际传媒淲e want to encourage people to reflect on sa国际传媒榟ow am I doing?sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�

As days get shorter, darker, and colder, itsa国际传媒檚 quite common to notice a shift in mood. And while winter is unavoidable, there are some lifestyle changes you can make that can help you battle the winter blues and SAD.

sa国际传媒� CMHA Kelowna (@cmhakelowna)

Giesbrecht says itsa国际传媒檚 always a good idea to do a mental health check with yourself, checking your coping mechanisms and ability to bounce back when hard things come.

sa国际传媒淚 had somebody say to me once, it was a doctor, that the goal of mental health is not to be free of hard times or low mood, but the goal is to be able to, when the waves of life come, to be able to ride them rather than feel like yousa国际传媒檙e drowning.sa国际传媒�

If yousa国际传媒檝e been feeling low for two weeks or more and the usual mood boosters arensa国际传媒檛 working, Giesbrecht says that is when you should find someone to talk to if you havensa国际传媒檛 already.

sa国际传媒淲e recommend going to our website for resources. Theresa国际传媒檚 a lot of great links and information there, but you may also want to talk to your doctor.sa国际传媒�

Once yousa国际传媒檝e done a mental health check on yourself, start checking in with those around you.

sa国际传媒淏e present, ask people how theysa国际传媒檙e doing, and create safe opportunities for conversation.sa国际传媒�

Giesbrecht adds that itsa国际传媒檚 important to not minimize someone elsesa国际传媒檚 feelings.

sa国际传媒淚f a person is saying theysa国际传媒檙e really struggling itsa国际传媒檚 really important that we all acknowledge that this person has [spoken up]. In many cases, it takes courage for a lot of us to say that.sa国际传媒�

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, visit for information and resources.

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